Stuart Jones acquired his injury in a motor vehicle accident while he was riding his bicycle to work. He suffered a fractured skull, two fractured vertebrae in his spine and torn tendons in his hand. Doctors initially feared the injury to his skull could claim his life.
In subsequent surgery to repair his spine, it was discovered that Stuart had no movement down the right side of his body. He was told he would require a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Despite this advice, he defied the odds. Using a special stationary bike, he began to regain movement in his knees. Within a few weeks he was using a standing frame, then a walking frame and then a walking stick. Stuart’s resilience and determination to walk again can be traced back to his time spent in the Australian Army and the values that were instilled in him.
While doing his rehab, Stuart realised Para-cycling could allow him to continue riding and even to race. From that moment on, he set himself three goals to achieve in Para-cycling – a national title, a world title and to compete at the Paralympics.
He achieved this seven-year-long dream to make his Paralympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics where he finished in fifth in the men’s time trial T1-2, and eighth in the men’s road race T1-2.
During the men’s road race, Jones put his race on hold to support to South African Toni Mould who was trailing last in the women’s race held concurrently with the men’s.
“On my last lap as I hit the bottom of the climb I came across Toni Mould and by that stage I knew wasn’t going to podium and it wasn’t going to matter whether I finished sixth, seventh or eighth – but here’s Toni, a true champion going up the climb and I thought well, if I can help her up the hill then my day here has been worthwhile.”
In a demonstration of sportsmanship, Jones rode alongside Mould, encouraging her all the way until she crossed the finish line.
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